Riders end 2009 with 5-1 romp over Youngstown

CEDAR RAPIDS - If this final game of 2009 is any indication, 2010 could be a good, good year for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The Riders began the unofficial second half of the United States Hockey League season with a 5-1 smackdown of the Youngstown Phantoms before 2,502 fans on New Year's Eve at The Stable.

Five guys scored and 12 guys had points for Cedar Rapids (14-12-2, 30 points). That's exactly the kind of team effort you're looking for out of a young group whose primary goal is to jell into a true “team.”

“It's a step. It's a small step,” said Riders Coach Mark Carlson. “We've got to continue to take them. It's a step in the right direction for us for sure.”

It was a pretty complete 60 minutes for Cedar Rapids, which gave up the first goal early in the second period but dominated from there on. Nick Lappin scored just his second goal of the season at the 8:13 mark to open the spigot.

Then it was Eric Robinson and Jeff Costello scoring 1:07 apart late in the period. Stephen Collins and Michael Parks added third-period tallies.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Carlson said. “Maybe a little more energy in the first period could help us. But overall it was pretty decent effort that we want to look at as a step here and continue to take (more) steps each game.”

Troy Grosenick made 20 stops to get the victory in net and added an assist on Costello's goal with a strong outlet to Zach Lehrke, who had the primary assist. Cedar Rapids held a 40-21 shots on goal edge, including 20 in the third period.

The game turned chippy at the end, with a scrum with just over a minute left turning into 45 minutes in penalties on five players, including a five-minute cross-checking and match (intent to injure) penalty on Youngstown's Luke Eibler.

Lappin also was given a butt-ending double-minor on the play.

Cedar Rapids hosts

Des Moines on Saturday night at 7:05 and

Omaha on Sunday afternoon at 4:05.